Geography of Rwanda – The Ultimate Free Guide 2021
Learn facts and Geography of Rwanda including Major Geographical Features, Natural resources, Region, area, Capital, Border countries, rivers in Rwanda.
- Rwanda officially the Republic of Rwanda,] is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley, where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Rwanda has a population of over 12.6 million living on 26,338 km2 (10,169 sq mi) of land, and is the most densely populated mainland African country.
- A million people live in the capital and largest city Kigali.
- Rwandans are drawn from just one cultural and linguistic group, the Banyarwanda.
- Rwanda’s developing economy suffered heavily in the wake of the 1994 genocide, but has since strengthened.
- The economy is based mostly on subsistence agriculture. Coffee and tea are the major cash crops for export.
- Tourism is a fast-growing sector and is now the country’s leading foreign exchange earner.
- Rwanda is one of only two countries in which mountain gorillas can be visited safely, and visitors pay high prices for gorilla tracking permits.
Geography of Rwanda
Region:
East Africa
Area:
Ranked 144th in the world in terms of size
Capital:
Kigali
Population:
12,374,397
Bordering Countries:
- Rwanda is located in Central/Eastern Africa, and is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, and Burundi to the south.
Total Size:
26,338 km2
Geographical Coordinates:
2°00′S 30°0′E
World Region or Continent:
Africa
General Terrain:
The centre of the country is predominantly rolling hills, while the eastern border region consists of savanna, plains and swamps. Rwanda has a temperate tropical highland climate, with lower temperatures than are typical for equatorial countries due to its high elevation.
Geographical Low Point:
Rusizi River 950 m
Geographical High Point:
Mount Karisimbi 4507 m
Climate:
- Rwanda has a temperate tropical highland climate, with lower temperatures than are typical for equatorial countries because of its high elevation.
- Kigali, in the center of the country, has a typical daily temperature range between 12 and 27 °C (54 and 81 °F), with little variation through the year.
- There are two rainy seasons in the year; the first runs from February to June and the second from September to December. These are separated by two dry seasons: the major one from June to September, during which there is often no rain at all, and a shorter and less severe one from December to February.
Major cities:
- Kigali
- Kicukiro
- Rutongo
- Nyanza
- Muhanga
- Kamonyi
- Ruhango
- Butare
- Gisagara
- Nyaruguru
- Nyamagabe
- Byumba
- Ruhengeri
- Kibuye
- Cyangugu
- Gisenyi
- Rwamagana
- Kibungo
Major Land forms:
- While the central and western part of this country is dominated by mountains; savannah, swamps, and plains are major landforms in central part, thus giving it a diverse touch.
- Rwanda Safari has fewer wildlife population, nevertheless it is quite varied and in fair number given the area of this country.
Major Rivers and Lakes:
Major Rivers :
- Mwogo,
- Rukarara,
- Mukungwa,
- Base,
- Nyabarongo and
- The Akanyaru.
Natural Resources:
- gold
- cassiterite
- wolframite
- columbite-tantalite
- methane
- hydropower
- coffee
- tea
- arable land
- green beans
Major Lakes
- Lake Kivu
- Lake Muhazi
- Lake Ihema
- Lake Rweru
- Lake Burera
- Lake Ruhondo
- Lake Mugesera
- Lake Cyohoha South
Major Geographical Features:
Biomes & Ecosystems:
- Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands,
- Savannas and Shrublands.
- Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Topography:
- Rwanda is at least 1,000 m (3,300 ft.) above sea level, the central plateau is between 1,500 and 2,000 m (4,950–6,600 ft.) high.
- In the northwest on the border with the DROC are the volcanic Virunga Mountains; the highest peak, Mt. Karisimbi (4,519 m/14,826 ft.), is snowcapped.
Oceans:
- Indian Ocean,
- Atlantic Ocean.
Islands:
Idjwi Island
Mountain Ranges:
- Virunga Mountains,
- Mount Karisimbi,
- Gahinga Volcano,
- Mount Bisoke,
- Mount Sabyinyo,
- Muhavura volcano,
- Mikeno Volcano,
- Mount Huye
Provinces of Rwanda :
- Kigali
- Southern
- Western
- Northern
- Eastern
See Also:
World Map – The Ultimate Guide
References:
- Wikipedia – Geography of Rwanda
- britannica.com – Geography of Rwanda
- africa.upenn.edu – Geography of Rwanda
- commonwealthgovernance.org – Geography of Rwanda
- countryreports.org – Geography of Rwanda
